Overview
- NASA says Artemis II remains on track for a spring lunar flyby after a Dec. 20 countdown test, with Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen slated to fly.
- Blue Origin targets early 2026 to attempt a Blue Moon MK1 technology demo near the Moon’s south pole, carrying a NASA instrument to study landing dust.
- Vast plans a Q2 2026 launch of its 14,000‑kg Haven‑1 module on a SpaceX rocket, aiming to host up to four short‑stay astronauts over a three‑year service life.
- China schedules the Chang’e 7 mission for late 2026 to the lunar south pole with an orbiter, relay craft, lander, rover and hopper to search for water ice.
- Key test campaigns continue, with SpaceX advancing Starship for NASA’s future lunar landing architecture and India planning two uncrewed Gaganyaan flights in 2026.